Amanda Donaldson

My research specializes in the role of vegetation in regulating watershed hydrologic function and form and, conversely, the impact of the subsurface (e.g. porosity, water storage) on vegetation health. Specifically, I combined field-based methods, remote-sensing techniques, and laboratory analyses of water, rock, and tree cores to characterize the ‘critical zone’ which extends from the tops of vegetation canopies to the deepest groundwater. My future research goals are to use my understanding of hydrology and ecology to contribute to the scientific theory and management strategies used to improve watershed resilience to disturbance and water resource sustainability in the face of a changing climate.